Tratamiento de la úlcera gástrica con sucralfato y famotidina / Treatment of gastric ulcer: sucralfate vs famotidine

We conducted a double blind random study on 79 patients with gastric ulcer: 39 received sucralfate, 1 g 4 times a day (Group 1) and 40 received a single evening dose of famotidine, 40 mg (Group 2). At 4 weeks, endoscopy revealed healing of the ulcer in 46% of patients in Group1 and 40% in group 2 (NS). At 8 weeks, corresponding figures were 90% and 75 (NS). All patients were able to complete treatment and minor side effects were reported from all patients, 36% with sucralfate and 28% with famotidine. Thus, sucralfate and famotidine are equally effective for therapy of gastric ulcer. The higher percentage of helaing with sucralfate observed in this study was not statistically significant

Cirrosis biliar primaria: experiencia clínica en 31 pacientes / Primary biliary cirrhosis: an analysis of 31 patients

We analyzed 31 patients with a diagnosis of primary biliary cirrhosis, 29 of them males, aged 23 to 72 years. Liver biopsy was diagnostic in all showing initial findings of the disease in 5. Echotomography and cholangiography demonstrated a patent biliary, tract. Antimithocondrial antibodies were present in 94% of patients. Alkaline phosphatase and biliary acid levels were useful for diagnosis. Pruritus was present with varying intensity in all patients, with premenstural exacerbations in 5 females who had cholestasis of pregnancy or hepatitis caused by progestin drugs before developing cirrhosis. Recurrent urinary tract infection was present in 8 patients, osteosporis in 24, Sjogren's syndrome in 24 and Crest syndrome in 4. Survival ranged from 1 to 12 years, death being caused by rupted esophageal varices in 12 patients and by liver failure in 7. Persistance of pruritus and altered liver function tests after cholestasis of pregnancy or hepatitis caused by progestins should lead to investigation of biliary cirrhosis

Campylobacter pylori en niños y adultos sometidos a endoscopia: correlación de hallazgos endoscópicos, bacteriológicos e histopatológicos / Campylobacter pylori in gastric mucosa of children and adults: correlation of endoscopic, hystologic and bacteriologic findings

Campylobacter pylori has been associated to peptic ulcer and gastritis. We investigated the presence of C pylory in 17 children and 50 adults who needed endoscopy to investigate upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Gram stain, Wartin-Starry stain and the urease test were used to identify the germ; best results were obtained with the Gram stain. C pylori was present in 5.8% of children and 88% of adults, incluinding al patientes with peptic ulcer and 36 out of 30 with hystologic evidence of gastritis. However, the germ was also found in 79% of patients with a normal mucosa. Our results suggest that C pylori is frequently present in gastric mucosa of children and adults with upper gastrointestinal problems. Further studies are needed to elucidate its possible pathogenic role in gastritis or peptic ulcer